For a Hyderabad home, AD100 interior designer Sona Reddy was presented with an interesting brief—a space that amalgamated her clients’ nostalgia for their ancestral haveli with modern minimalism. “Tanushree and Parth, a doctor couple, called for a soulful design rooted in tradition yet reimagined for today,” says Reddy. Across 3,600 square feet, this four-bedroom home is a striking homage to the India modern movement, ushering the winsome past into the present with grace. “In this residence, nostalgia forms the warp, while experimentation and fresh design perspectives form the weft,” she adds.
Texture and materiality are given pride of place in this home, adding not only a strong element of visual and tactile nuance but also rooting the home firmly in context. Lime plaster, natural stones, terracotta, seasoned wood, and traditionally sourced pigments honour traditional design sensibilities, while their understated modernist applications reimagine them for contemporary living. “The choice of materials like travertine and terrazzo, known for their durability, reduces the need for frequent replacements,” Reddy adds.
The Hyderabad home lies on the ground floor of a multi-storey residential building. From the entrance itself, an ethos of India modern design is made clear, manifesting throughout the interior. A grand teak door featuring intricate woodwork is painted in a dusky rose tint—a colour extracted from madder pigment sourced from Uttarakhand. In the entryway beyond, a bold travertine wall takes centre stage, along with a bespoke console crafted from the very same material. This is set against grey terrazzo floors streaked with pink inserts, in a beautiful amalgamation of texture and material. “The goal was to create a home that honours the past while embracing a contemporary, function-led approach that resonates with the clients' evolving vision,” Reddy says. “Key concepts included raw, earthy materials like lime plaster, natural stones, and terracotta, which evoke warmth and history. The interplay of colour, texture, and scale was central, with an emphasis on dynamic apertures and seamless transitions between spaces.”
The living room comes to life with a remarkable curation of objets d’art crafted from wood and wicker, arranged in a sunlit interior that looks onto the garden beyond. One of the most compelling elements in the room is a series of circular punctures in the wall, which serve as a contemporary reimagining of traditional jaali walls. Apart from their striking visual appeal, Reddy says, “The large fenestration systems maximise natural light, reducing energy consumption, while the seamless connection between interior and exterior spaces fosters natural ventilation, contributing to a sustainable, energy-efficient home.” A stunning sculptural bench from The Wicker Story adds intrigue, complemented by wooden furniture and jute furnishings.
In the cushy television lounge, floor-to-ceiling windows with fluted glass and wooden frames bring the outside in. A large, double-sided bookshelf acts as both a divider and a prayer nook, while a vibrant kilim-style rug from Obeetee Carpets injects colour and warmth into the otherwise muted palette. The statement coffee table from Room Therapy Collective features a tiger motif, alongside an undulating chair and footstool by Phantom Hands. A chequered marble wall sconce by Leviosa Design adds a touch of whimsy.
A subtle yet evocative homage to the couple’s former haveli is seen in the bar unit, where custom-carved details mirror the facade of their ancestral home. As it happens, this is also Reddy’s favourite piece of the puzzle. She says, “This detail beautifully honours the past, acting as a silent tribute and a unique storytelling piece. It’s a personal touch that seamlessly blends nostalgia with contemporary design, creating a meaningful connection between the clients’ previous and current homes.”
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In the home’s private spaces, warmth, tactility, and comfort are given special importance. The master bedroom, decorated with a ferrocement feature wall and teak furnishings, creates a serene, minimalist sanctuary, while the rust-toned master bathroom introduces a rich, tactile allure. The guest bedroom, with its salmon-toned walls and a repurposed bed from the former haveli, exudes warmth and nostalgia, celebrating memory and history. Intricate prints across the rug and a tapestry hanging over the bed further strengthen these ties to the past.
“The project responds to its context by blending modernist elements with nostalgic touches, honouring the clients’ history while embracing the present,” Reddy says. “The interplay of apertures, natural textures, and seamless indoor-outdoor transitions creates a grounded yet contemporary space that complements its lush, urban surroundings.”
Styling Credits: Sona Reddy, Jemy Joy
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